Kalonji Nigella sativa L., also widely known as kalonji or nigella,
but also, less commonly for
Bunium persicum (Boiss.) B. Fedtsch of the family
Apiaceae. Kalonji is cultivated across Asia from Italy to Indonesia and is
a popular remedy for many common symptoms.

Kalonji is a herbal/bush which grows
to about 500mm high producing blue flowers and black seeds from
which the oil is extracted. The seeds are triangular in shape and
have a b pungent smell.

Chemical Composition - seeds contain 1.5% volatile oil, while 37.5%
Non volatile oil. In addition to this Albumen, Sugar, Organic acids,
Glucoside Melanthin Metarbin and bitter substances are also found.
The Glucoside is toxic in nature, hence the use of Kalonji in large
doses and prolonged use can be harmful.

It has been reported that in 1996 the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) granted a patent for drug based on
extracts of "Nigella Sativa," for the use as an immune system
stimulant and for treating cancer, preventing the side effects of
anticancer chemotherapy, and for increasing the immune system
functions in humans. However a search of the FDA website failed to
find any evidence of this and all applications for Kalonji seeds and
preparations containing Kalonji have been rejected due to poor
presentation, i.e. containing dirt and unfit for human use, but
don't let this deter you.

Kalonji is seen as a cure-all and the uses described below have
no known scientific validation, but are widely corroborated by
natural medicine practitioners.

Kalongi in Ayurveda
Kalongi oil is a very good Ayurvedic medicine and Ayurved appreciates its many
qualities and bitter, warming, stimulant nature. It is used in wide variety of
diseases like haemorrhoids, hepatitis, fever, diarrhoea, cough, and tapeworm, to mention only a few of them. Nigela Sativa works in a different way,
which makes it suitable for diseases of the immune system itself, eg. allergies;
TB; cancer; aids etc.

The oil of nigella sativa is so beneficial due to it's content of over a hundred
components such as aromatic oils, trace elements, vitamins and enzymes. It
contains 58% of essential fatty acids including omega 6 and omega 3. These are
necessary for the forming of Prostaglandin E1 which balances and strengthens the
immune system giving it the power to prevent infections and allergies and
control chronic illnesses.

Healthy cells are protected from viruses thus inhibiting tumours. Blackseed oil
also contains about 0.5 - 1.5% volatile oils including nigellone and
thymochinone which are responsible for its anti-histamine, anti-oxidant,
anti-infective and broncho-dilating effect.

As oil it is digested through the lymphatics consequently purifying and
unblocking the lymphatic system. Recently independent clinical studies published
in the archives of AIDS also established some astonishing effects of blackseed
on the defence system by improving the ratio between helper t-cells and
suppresser t-cells by a significant amount while also enhancing the natural
killer cell activity.

Backache & Rheumatism:
Warm kalonji oil slightly &
apply to the area thoroughly. Massaging the bone, not the
skin & drink half teaspoon of kalonji oil for 30 days

Catarrh:
Take ˝ teaspoon of kalonji oil with 2
pods of long pepper twice a day. If catarrh is in initial
stage put drop of kalonji oil in eyes daily.

Dr Harish asks;
Can we use Kalongi Oil in chronic renal failure?"
I couldn't find any reference in Ayurvedic Megabooks for Internal/ external use
of Kalongi oil in Chronic Renal Failure. But the above description can be used
as a guideline to use this oil in case of Chronic Renal Failure; say for
boosting Immune system.
Dr. Satish Kulkarni

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